On this day, October 22, 1942, Bobby Fuller was born.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Singer Bobby Fuller was #BornOnThisDay, Oct. 22, 1942. Remembered for the record hits "Let Her Dance" (1965) & "I Fought the Law" (1966). Passed in 1966 (age 23) from #asphyxiation (auto), considered a #suicide, #homicide, or accidental death. #RIP #gonetoosoon #UnsolvedMysteries

Link to tweet

Bobby Fuller


Fuller performing with The Bobby Fuller Four in 1966

Background information
Birth name: Robert Gaston Fuller
Born: October 22, 1942; Baytown, Texas
Origin: El Paso, Texas
Died: July 18, 1966 (aged 23); Los Angeles, California
Formerly of: The Bobby Fuller Four, Randy Fuller

Robert Gaston Fuller (October 22, 1942 – July 18, 1966) was an American rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist best known for "Let Her Dance" and his cover of the Crickets' "I Fought the Law," recorded with his group The Bobby Fuller Four.

Early life

Born in Baytown, Texas, Fuller was born to Leonard and Eva Barrett Fuller, the middle of three boys, having a maternal older half-brother, Jack, and a younger brother, Randy. Fuller moved as a small child to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he remained until 1956, when he and his family moved to El Paso, Texas. His father got a job at El Paso Natural Gas at that time. It was the same year that Elvis Presley became popular, and Bobby Fuller became mesmerized by the new rock and roll star. Fuller soon adopted the style of fellow Texan Buddy Holly, fronting a four-man combo and often using original material.

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Death

Within months of "I Fought the Law" becoming a top 10 hit, Fuller was found dead in an automobile parked outside his Hollywood apartment. The Los Angeles deputy medical examiner, Jerry Nelson, performed the autopsy. According to Dean Kuipers: "The report states that Bobby's face, chest, and side were covered in 'petechial hemorrhages,' probably caused by gasoline vapors and the summer heat. He found no bruises, no broken bones, no cuts. No evidence of beating." Kuipers further explains that boxes for "accident" and "suicide" were checked, but next to the boxes were question marks. Despite the official cause of death, some commentators believe Fuller was murdered.

Erik Greene, a relative of Sam Cooke, has cited similarities in the deaths of Cooke and Fuller. Fuller's bandmate Jim Reese suspected that Charles Manson played a role in Fuller's death, but never provided credible evidence; Manson was in prison from 1961 to 1967. A sensationalist crime website has speculated that the Los Angeles Police Department may have been involved because of Fuller's connection to a Mafia-related woman.

Fuller was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles. His death was profiled in a segment of Unsolved Mysteries.

His death was also explored in the May 11, 2015, episode of the NPR program All Things Considered. The program references the book I Fought the Law: The Life and Strange Death of Bobby Fuller by Miriam Linna, with contributions by Randy Fuller. Sometime after the Unsolved Mysteries segment in question initially aired, the cause of Fuller's death was officially changed from "suicide" to "accident". {See note.}

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Note: The account of Bobby Fuller's death at the Wikipedia entry for The Bobby Fuller Four is substantially different:

Aftermath

Bobby Fuller died under mysterious circumstances on July 18, 1966. His body was found beaten inside his car parked just outside of his Hollywood home. Evidence suggests that he had ingested gasoline. Initially, these details were not released to the public. Although many of his friends suspected he might have been murdered by mobsters, Fuller's death was officially ruled a suicide by police.

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Bobby Fuller has been the subject of two books: I Fought The Law: The Life and Strange Death of Bobby Fuller by Miriam Linna & Randell Fuller (2015); and Rock & Roll Mustangs by Stephen J. McParland (2009 and with an updated edition released in 2021).

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"I Fought The Law" - Bobby Fuller Four *LIVE* on SHIVAREE with Glen Campbell! (1966)

MordoMarty
803 subscribers

18,158 views Nov 16, 2018 HOLLYWOOD
This clip is from a live performance of The Bobby Fuller Four performing on Shivaree in 1966.
Original Full Video:
• Video

Update February 2020
The original video above has sadly been taken down so I apologize for the link not working.

Lyrics -
I'm breakin' rocks in the hot sun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I needed money 'cause I had none
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won

Well, I left my baby and I feel so sad
I guess my race is run
But she's the best girl I've ever had
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won

Robbin' people with a six-gun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won

I miss my baby and the good fun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won

Well, I left my baby and I feel so sad
I guess my race is run
But she's the best girl I've ever had
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won

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I DO NOT OWN THE MUSIC IN THIS, THIS IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY

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Same thing, but a bit longer, and with a logo added:

The Bobby Fuller Four ~ "I Fought The Law" with Glen Campbell 1966 Shivaree ORIGINAL POST!

The Diamond Mine
4.21K subscribers

24,975 views Oct 24, 2017
ORIGINAL UPLOAD 2014 ~ From the old "Diamond's In The Rough", now "The Diamond Mine"!
ANY OTHER SHOWING OF THIS VIDEO ON YOU-TUBE WERE COPIED & CROPPED FROM THIS!

For more first run rarities & ALL that is Glen, Subscribe to~
"Phoenix Rising - The Glen Campbell Archives" (The Diamond Mine collection) *For more first run rarities & all that is Glen,

{snip}

Video has improved just a bit in the last five-plus decades.

The Clay Cole Show | Bobby Fuller Four - “I Fought The Law”

MordoMarty
803 subscribers

1,712 views Aug 21, 2021
Here’s a New released footage from the old show “The Clay Cole Show” (1959-1968)

Episode was released
May 14th, 1966. Featuring Bobby Fuller (Lead Guitarist), Randy Fuller (Bass), Jim Reese (Rhythm Guitar), and Dalton Powell (Drums)

"WPIX 11 NEW YORK CLAY COLE'S DISKOTEK 1966
THE BOBBY FULLER FOUR THIS WAS FILMED FROM THE STUDIO MONITOR, THE AUDIO WAS ADDED LATER."




NOTE: NO INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT INTENDED.
THIS VIDEO IS POSTED AS A TRIBUTE TO THE ARTIST ONLY!

BOBBY FULLER 4 ON HULLABALOO! | "I Fought The Law" & "Loves Made A Fool Of You"

MordoMarty
803 subscribers

21,668 views Oct 15, 2020 LOS ANGELES
Hullabaloo is an American musical variety series that ran on NBC from January 12, 1965, through April 11, 1966. Similar to Shindig! it ran in prime time in contrast to ABC's American Bandstand.

I will have the FULL EPISODE on my other channel...

This shortened video clip shows Hullabaloo Season 2 Episode 27! with nonother than THE BOBBY FULLER FOUR on March 21st, 1966!

Please contact me If you have any rare or unseen footage of the Bobby Fuller Four!
Email: [e-mail]

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Tue Oct 24, 2023: On October 22, 1942, Bobby Fuller was born.

Mon Oct 24, 2022: On October 22, 1942, Bobby Fuller was born.

[duhneece]

1. We lived around the corner from his parents where Bobby F 4 practiced

My older sister dated Randy Fuller.
It was definitely seen as murder by those close to him.
Tragic ending and he was so young.